Optimal scheduling of multi-site enterprise print jobs

A method of processing and printing a print job comprising:

• evaluating a most recent print job processed with specialized printing and finishing machines located in different printing sites to calculate current residual capacity for each of said different printing sites, said current residual capacity being based on an assignment time and a completion time of said most recent print job processed by said different printing sites, said current residual capacity being determined and maintained by a computerized server that is in communication with, and separate from, said different printing sites over a wide area network;
• receiving said print job into said computerized server after calculating said current residual capacity;
• calculating a turnaround time of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on said current residual capacity;
• calculating a cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on historical cost information maintained by said computerized server;
• receiving preferences from users supplying said print job;
• determining weighting factors based on said preferences;
• applying said weighting factors to said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to produce a weighted turnaround time and weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites;
• and
• summing said weighted turnaround time and said weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to generate a weighted sum of said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites;
• selecting one of said different printing sites as a selected printing site based on a relatively lowest weighted sum for said print job;
• and
• assigning said print job to said selected printing site over said wide area network to cause said selected printing site to process said print job using said specialized printing and finishing machines.

A system for processing and printing a print job comprising:

• a computerized server in communication with different printing sites over a wide area network,
• said different printing sites comprising specialized printing and finishing machines located in separate locations and in locations separate from said computerized server,
• said computerized server evaluating a most recent print job processed with said specialized printing and finishing machines of said different printing sites using information obtained over said wide area network to calculate current residual capacity for each of said different printing sites,
• said computerized server receiving said print job,
• said computerized server calculating a turnaround time of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on said current residual capacity,
• said computerized server calculating a cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on historical cost information maintained by said computerized server,
• said computerized server receiving preferences from users supplying said print job;
• said computerized server determining weighting factors based on said preferences;
• said computerized server applying said weighting factors to said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to produce a weighted turnaround time and weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites;
• and
• said computerized server summing said weighted turnaround time and said weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to generate a weighted sum of said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites,
• said computerized server selecting one of said different printing sites as a selected printing site based on a relatively lowest weighted sum for said print job, and
• said computerized server assigning said print job to said selected printing site over said wide area network to cause said selected printing site to process said print job using said specialized printing and finishing machines.

A system for processing and printing a print job comprising:

• a computerized server in communication with different printing sites over a wide area network,
• said different printing sites comprising specialized printing and finishing machines located in separate locations and in locations separate from said computerized server,
• said computerized server evaluating a most recent print job processed with said specialized printing and finishing machines of said different printing sites using information obtained over said wide area network to calculate current residual capacity for each of said different printing sites,
• said current residual capacity being based on an assignment time and a completion time of said most recent print job processed by said different printing sites,
• said computerized server receiving said print job after calculating said current residual capacity,
• said computerized server calculating a turnaround time of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on said current residual capacity,
• said computerized server calculating a cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites based on historical cost information maintained by said computerized server,
• said computerized server receiving preferences from users supplying said print job;
• said computerized server determining weighting factors based on said preferences;
• said computerized server applying said weighting factors to said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to produce a weighted turnaround time and weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites;
• and
• said computerized server summing said weighted turnaround time and said weighted cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites to generate a weighted sum of said turnaround time and said cost of said print job for each of said different printing sites,
• said computerized server selecting one of said different printing sites as a selected printing site based on a relatively lowest weighted sum for said print job, and
• said computerized server assigning said print job to said selected printing site over said wide area network to cause said selected printing site to process said print job using said specialized printing and finishing machines.